Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
You'll clear customs and catch a shared shuttle bus to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to settle in, then this afternoon there's a briefing on how the tour gets started.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
- Day 2
Tokyo
A five-hour guided tour takes you through Tokyo's different neighborhoods. You'll stop at Zojoji Temple for Tokyo Tower views, cross the famous Shibuya Crossing, walk through Meiji Shrine, check out shops on Omotesando Avenue, see the Imperial Palace and Nijubashi Bridge, explore Akihabara's electronics district, go up Tokyo Skytree for panoramic views, and visit Sensoji Temple with Nakamise Street in Asakusa. By evening you're on the subway heading to Shinjuku for a walk through the lively district and dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at local restaurant in Shinjuku)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour through Tokyo (approximately 5 hours)
- Visit Zojoji Temple
- Visit Shibuya Crossing
- Visit Meiji Shrine
- Ride along Omotesando Avenue
- Explore Imperial Palace and gardens
- Visit Nijubashi Bridge
- Drive through Akihabara
- Visit Tokyo Skytree with admission included
- Explore Sensoji Temple
- Walk through Nakamise Street
- Subway ride to Shinjuku with ticket included
- Dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks Zojoji Temple Tokyo Tower Shibuya Crossing Meiji Shrine Omotesando Avenue Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge Akihabara Tokyo Skytree Sensoji Temple Nakamise Street Shinjuku 
- Day 3
Tokyo to Hiroshima
After breakfast you'll head to the station and board the bullet train for about four hours, covering 800 kilometers to Hiroshima. From there you walk through Peace Memorial Park, see the Atomic Bomb Dome, and tour the Peace Memorial Museum. Later a ferry takes you to Itsukushima Island to visit the famous shrine that sits partially over the sea, wander through the island's center, and grab lunch. You'll return to Hiroshima for dinner that evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Candeo Hatchobori), Hotel (Hilton Hiroshima)
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Hiroshima
- Stroll through Peace Memorial Park
- Visit Atomic Bomb Dome
- Visit Peace Memorial Museum
- Ferry to Itsukushima Island
- Visit Itsukushima Shrine
- Explore island's charming center
- Dinner included in Hiroshima
Landmarks Peace Memorial Park Atomic Bomb Dome Peace Memorial Museum Itsukushima Shrine 
- Day 4
Hiroshima to Matsuyama
A ferry ride to Shikoku Island takes about two and a half hours. Once in Matsuyama you'll ride a cable car up to the castle, then visit Ishiteji, a Buddhist temple that's a popular pilgrimage stop. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you'll soak in Dogo Onsen, a traditional 19th century bathhouse, and stay overnight there.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ana Crowne Plaza Matsuyama)
Included Activities
- Ferry to Shikoku Island
- Cable car ride to Matsuyama Castle
- Visit Matsuyama Castle
- Visit Ishiteji Temple
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Admission to Dogo Onsen
Landmarks Matsuyama Castle Ishiteji Temple Dogo Onsen 
- Day 5
Matsuyama - Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe
You'll travel to Kotohira to climb 785 steps up Mount Zosu to reach a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors. This is an important pilgrimage site. After that you head to Takamatsu to see Ritsurin, one of Japan's most beautiful gardens, with lunch included at a local restaurant. Next comes a stop in Naruto where you'll walk across an impressive bridge spanning the sea on a glass floor to watch powerful whirlpools from 45 meters above. You'll travel over several bridges connecting islands before arriving in Kobe for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Kotohira Shinto Shrine
- Climb 785 steps to Mount Zosu
- Visit Ritsurin Garden
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Explore Naruto Bridge
- Walk glass floor over sea whirlpools
- Cross island-connecting bridges
Landmarks Kotohira Shinto Shrine Mount Zosu Ritsurin Garden Naruto Bridge 
- Day 6
Kobe - Mount Koya
Starting in Kobe, you'll visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum honoring the 1995 earthquake and the city's recovery. Then you head to Osaka before climbing Mount Koya, the most important center of Shingon Buddhism with 120 temples and monasteries. You'll see the Okuno Mausoleum, a spiritual cemetery with over 200,000 graves set in nature, and the Kongobuji Temple from 1593. Tonight you stay in a Buddhist monastery where monks lead a Zen meditation practice. Vegetarian dinner is included.
- Meals
- Dinner (Vegetarian meal)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Monasterio Hojoin)
Included Activities
- Visit Earthquake Memorial Museum
- Visit Okuno Mausoleum
- Visit Kongobuji Temple
- Zen meditation practice (Ajikan) led by monks
- Vegetarian dinner included
Optional Activities
- Attend religious ceremony at temple before breakfast
Landmarks Earthquake Memorial Museum Okuno Mausoleum Kongobuji Temple 
- Day 7
Mount Koya to Kyoto
You start with traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple, then head early to Kyoto, Japan's capital from 794 to 1868. The city mostly avoided World War II bombing and retains remarkable artistic and cultural heritage. You'll visit Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of red torii gates, see the historic Imperial Palace, and tour Kinkaku-ji Temple, the Golden Pavilion with its gardens. Free time lets you explore before heading to Gion, a busy traditional district known for Geisha culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Japanese breakfast at temple)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (New Miyako Hotel)
Included Activities
- Traditional Japanese breakfast at temple
- Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Explore Imperial Palace
- Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
- Walk through Gion traditional district
Landmarks Fushimi Inari Shrine Imperial Palace Kinkaku-ji Temple Gion 
- Day 8
Kyoto - Tsumago - Matsumoto - Nagano
You'll head out toward Tsumago through charming countryside. This small village with wooden houses is considered one of Japan's prettiest spots. You can explore at your own pace and enjoy included lunch. Then it's on to Matsumoto, a lively tourist city, where you'll tour the impressive 16th century castle known as 'The Crow.' Free time lets you wander the bustling city before traveling to Nagano for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Tsumago)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Metropolitan Nagano)
Included Activities
- Visit Tsumago village
- Lunch included in Tsumago
- Visit Matsumoto Castle
Landmarks Tsumago Matsumoto Castle 
- Day 9
Nagano - Monkey Park - Kusatsu - Ikaho
In Nagano you'll visit Zenko-ji Temple, a famous pilgrimage site with Japan's first Buddhist image, and join the Gomakuyo ceremony, a traditional ritual for attracting good fortune. Then you venture into the Japanese Alps through mountain scenery to reach Jigokudani Monkey Park. Walking through forested trails and past rivers, you'll see Japanese macaques bathing in warm springs. The high-mountain landscapes reach 2,172 meters altitude with semi-active volcanoes visible. Next comes Kusatsu, a charming hot spring town where you can stroll its central square and park with free open-air onsen. You end in Ikaho, another hot spring town known for traditional stone stairways. Your night is in a traditional ryokan with included Japanese dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Japanese dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Moriaki Ryokan)
Included Activities
- Visit Zenko-ji Temple
- Participate in Gomakuyo ceremony
- Walk through Jigokudani Monkey Park
- Stroll through Kusatsu city park with open-air onsen
- Explore Ikaho old center
- Stay in Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn)
- Traditional Japanese dinner included
Optional Activities
- Enjoy hot-spring baths at Ryokan
Landmarks Zenko-ji Temple Jigokudani Monkey Park Kusatsu Ikaho 
- Day 10
Ikaho to Tokyo
You'll travel to Nikko to visit the impressive Nikko-Toshogu Temple, famous for its 'room with the sound of a dragon.' Next is the Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum, a serene and awe-inspiring site, followed by a stroll along the Kanmangafuchi Abyss where hundreds of Jizo statues line the riverbanks. Free time lets you explore the town center before heading back to Tokyo, arriving around 6:30 p.m.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Nikko-Toshogu Temple
- Explore Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum
- Stroll along Kanmangafuchi Abyss
Landmarks Nikko-Toshogu Temple Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum Kanmangafuchi Abyss 
- Day 11
Tokyo - Kamakura - Enoshima - Odawara
Leaving Tokyo for Kamakura, a peaceful city that served as Japan's capital for two centuries and holds numerous shrines, temples, and gardens. At Hokoku-ji Zen Temple you'll walk through its beautiful bamboo forest and have green tea. You'll visit Sugimoto-dera, founded in 734 and the oldest temple in the city. Free time lets you enjoy the pleasant city center before you see the Great Buddha (Daibutsu). A scenic coastal road follows the Pacific Ocean with free time for lunch and a walk on Enoshima, a small island connected by bridge. Later you reach Odawara to tour the castle, an impressive medieval fortress from the Edo period and one of Japan's most important castles. You'll stay overnight there.
Included Activities
- Visit Hokoku-ji Zen Temple
- Stroll through bamboo forest
- Green tea at temple
- Visit Sugimoto-dera Temple
- Visit Great Buddha (Daibutsu)
- Walk on Enoshima island
- Visit Odawara Castle
Landmarks Hokoku-ji Zen Temple Sugimoto-dera Temple Great Buddha (Daibutsu) Enoshima Odawara Castle 
- Day 12
Odawara - Mount Fuji region - Tokyo
You'll travel toward the beautiful Hakone region of lakes and mountains near Mount Fuji. First you ascend to Owakudani, the 'Valley of Hell,' a volcanic crater with steam vents and bubbling mud. Then comes Oshino Hakkai, a small picturesque village with eight ponds and beautiful Mount Fuji views. You'll reach Kawaguchiko, an idyllic town with small houses, flowers, and mountains beside a beautiful lake, where you'll take a scenic boat ride. Your ascent toward Mount Fuji follows the road to the Fifth Station at 2,305 meters/7,562 feet, surrounded by spectacular forests. You'll return to Tokyo later that day.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Owakudani (Valley of Hell)
- Visit Oshino Hakkai village
- Scenic boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko
- Drive to Mount Fuji Fifth Station
Landmarks Owakudani (Valley of Hell) Oshino Hakkai Lake Kawaguchiko Mount Fuji Fifth Station 
- Day 13
Tokyo
After breakfast, your journey through Japan concludes, leaving you with lasting memories of everything you've experienced.
- Meals
- Breakfast
